Edwin C Krupp

David Brin's book review in View, Nov. 15 ("A Little Cometary on Halley Showman") listed 10 books on Halley's comet, but omitted one that should not be overlooked: "The Comet and You" by E. C. Krupp (director of the Griffith Observatory) and illustrated by Robin Rector Krupp (Macmillan: $12.95). It is written for 6- to 10-year-olds, but will delight readers of any age. Last month, the American Institute of Physics awarded its Science-Writing Award to Edwin C. Krupp for "The Comet and You"--the first time the award has been given for a book written for children.

David Brin's book review in View, Nov. 15 ("A Little Cometary on Halley Showman") listed 10 books on Halley's comet, but omitted one that should not be overlooked: "The Comet and You" by E. C. Krupp (director of the Griffith Observatory) and illustrated by Robin Rector Krupp (Macmillan: $12.95). It is written for 6- to 10-year-olds, but will delight readers of any age. Last month, the American Institute of Physics awarded its Science-Writing Award to Edwin C. Krupp for "The Comet and You"--the first time the award has been given for a book written for children.

Public interest in Halley's comet has been so great that Griffith Observatory is extending its hours to permit more persons to view the comet through the observatory's telescope. "It's been really extraordinary," said Edwin C. Krupp, director of the observatory. He said the observatory opened last Friday and Saturday at 4 a.m. and several thousand persons showed up over the two-day period. "People are having a tough time just finding the comet" when they go out on their own, Krupp said.

The director of Los Angeles' Griffith Observatory will give two lectures on astronomy next Monday at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. Edwin C. Krupp will give a speech at 10 a.m. titled "Archeoastronomy and the Roots of Science," which will explore the ceremonial and symbolic aspects of the sky in ancient and prehistoric civilizations. An 8 p.m. lecture that same day will be titled "The Cosmic Mountain" and will discuss the sky's influence on sacred traditions.

The spacecraft Galileo will fly by the Earth Saturday for a gravity boost toward its journey to Jupiter. The Planetary Society, in cooperation with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will mark the day with an "exploration celebration" at Caltech. Special events will include Galileo's newest images of the moon and Earth, the latest information about Magellan's discoveries at Venus and what to expect when Galileo reaches the Jovian system in 1995.

Hospitals, doctors, dentists and the equipment used by health care professionals can often be very frightening to children. A recently reopened exhibit, "Hands-On Health," at the Children's Museum at La Habra is designed to help reduce some of this fear and anxiety.

As soon as Jacques Dupinac heard that Griffith Observatory would reopen to the public Friday after its nearly five-year, $93-million makeover, the Barstow resident jumped online to book one of the first shuttle buses that would take visitors up to the domed landmark. His was scheduled to leave the Hollywood & Highland Center at 11:30 a.m. for the noon opening. This fan of "all things that leave you in awe and wonder" wanted to be the first to set foot on uncharted territory.

MOST CLICHES, particularly those related to Los Angeles, are rooted in some semblance of reality. But the notion that the L.A. region is a vast strip mall whose only outdoor attractions involve surfing and driving around in convertibles has always irked me. Last month in Ojai, which is close enough to the city that you'd think people would know better, a woman who knew I was from L.A. saw my dog sniffing some tree roots and said, "I bet he doesn't get to do that very often."

When Griffith Observatory offered a lecture earlier this year on exploring Venus, only 57 people trooped up to the hilltop planetarium to learn about the brightest planet in the solar system. A discussion of Mars drew only 50. But 10 times that many people attended a talk earlier this month on tonight's blue moon, a term astronomers use not to describe its color, which will not be affected, but to note the unusual appearance of a second full moon in a single month.

THE ARTS WWII Memorial Controversy Continues: The National Capital Planning Commission announced late Thursday that it will hold a public meeting June 14 to review past placement and design decisions for the controversial World War II Memorial, planned for the Mall in Washington.